Grin fiber multi-spot laser probe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10245181-B2
Application number	US-201213723600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2012
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A surgical probe includes a cannula assembly, having a graded index (GRIN) fiber that is configured to receive a multi-spot light beam at a proximal end and to emit the multi-spot light beam at a distal end; an adapter, having a distal end, configured to receive the cannula assembly, with the proximal end of the GRIN fiber, a proximal end, configured to couple to a light guide via a connector and to receive a light delivered by the light guide from a laser source to the adapter, and an interface, configured to couple the light delivered by the light guide to the proximal end of the GRIN fiber; wherein a length of the GRIN fiber is sufficiently long that the interface is outside a patient's eye during a photocoagulation procedure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A surgical probe, comprising:
a cannula assembly, having
a graded index (GRIN) fiber that is configured to receive a multi-spot light beam at a proximal end and to emit the multi-spot light beam at a distal end, and a cannula encasing the GRIN fiber;
a handpiece coupled to the cannula assembly with a proximal portion of the GRIN fiber extending into a proximal end of the handpiece, the handpiece configured to be manipulated by a surgeon or a surgical machine to control positioning of the distal end of the GRIN fiber; and
an adapter, having
a distal end configured to receive the proximal portion of the handpiece containing the proximal portion of the GRIN fiber,
a proximal end, configured to couple to a light guide via a connector and to receive a light delivered by the light guide from a laser source to the adapter, and
an interface configured between the distal end of the adapter and the proximal end of the adapter;
wherein the interface is outside a patient's eye when the cannula is inserted into the patient's eye during a photocoagulation procedure;
wherein the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is spaced from a distal end of the light guide by a pre-selected distance inside the adapter thereby coupling the light delivered by the light guide to the proximal end of the GRIN fiber in the adapter;
wherein the cannula is removably docked to the adapter.

2. The surgical probe of claim 1 , the light guide comprising:
a fiber bundle.

3. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the light guide comprises a single optical fiber; and
the adapter comprises, at the interface,
a lens, optically coupled to the optical fiber; and
a diffractive beam splitter, optically coupled to the lens.

4. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein the handpiece is further configured for providing a heat exchange system.

5. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the cannula comprises a high thermal-conductivity metal.

6. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the GRIN fiber is encased into the cannula with a highly heat-conducting adhesive along a length of the GRIN fiber.

7. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the cannula assembly is disposable, and
the adapter is not disposable.

8. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the surgical probe is optically coupled to a surgical light system, comprising
a light source, configured to provide light for the light guide; and
a control processor, configured to control an operation of the surgical light system.

9. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the adapter comprises a heat exchange structure.

10. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the GRIN fiber has a diameter between 200 microns and 500 microns.

11. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is coated with an anti-reflective coating.

12. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is cut at an angle relative to the axis of symmetry of the GRIN fiber.

13. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the GRIN fiber comprises a cylindrical core having a refractive index that varies radially.

14. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the handpiece is longitudinally aligned with a proximal portion of the GRIN fiber.

15. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the handpiece is adjacent to the adapter.

16. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is disposed within the adapter.

17. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
a proximal end of the cannula disposed within the adapter.

18. The surgical probe of claim 1 , wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber and the distal end of the light guide are aligned along a lumen of the adapter.

Assignees

• Alcon Res Ltd

Inventors

• Diao Chenguang
• Smith Ronald T

Classifications

• A61F9/00823

  Laser features or special beam parameters therefor · CPC title

• A61F2009/00863

  Retina · CPC title

• A61F9/00821 Primary

  for coagulation · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title